Rumblings of a blockbuster deal between the Capitals and Predators

Barry Trotz isn't content to sit around and wait for the Nashville Predators to sort things out.

The Predators' franchise icon is, of course, back with the team after taking over general manager duties for the now-retired David Poile and has been very active in his first week on the job. The thing is though, Trotz has reportedly been even busier behind the scenes trying to make some pretty aggressive moves.

There were reports that he was trying to move into the top 5 of the 2023 NHL Draft by tangling top prospect Yaroslav Askarov but was unable to consummate a deal on the draft floor. Now, there are reports that Trotz had been trying to acquire one of his former players with the Washington Capitals, Evgeny Kuznetsov. Trotz and Kuznetsov obviously have some history together after winning the Stanley Cup in 2018 and it appears that Trotz was trying to rekindle things in Nashville. According to NHL insider Elliotte Friedman though, the Capitals weren't interested in acquiring Matt Duchene in a potential trade for Kuznetsov. Trotz then made the decision to buy-out Duchene's contract and to sign free agent Ryan O'Reilly to a new deal.

From Friedman:

"Before Nashville signed Ryan O'Reilly, and they might've done it anyway, I don't know, but they were talking to Washington about Kuznetsov, l wonder if it was a Kuznetsov-for-Duchene deal."

- Elliotte Friedman

Honestly, I think the Predators may have unknowingly dodged a bullet here...

While I absolutely loved Kuznetsov in the Capitals' 2018 Stanley Cup run, he has regressed mightily in the five seasons that have passed. The 31 year old Russian playmaker has been inconsistent in recent seasons and makes a whopping $7.8 million against the salary cap through the 2024-25 season. While he could be a contributor to the Preds and their new culture, I'm not sure he's worth the contract that comes with him. Say what you will about O'Reilly, he provides the Predators with a much different skill set and, honestly, he's probably closer to what this team actually needs if it's looking to push for a Stanley Cup Playoffs spot in 2023-24.